San Diego- Where to Eat?

[icelandgirl]

Hi all,

My family and I will be visiting San Diego in June!  Although we plan to prepare a lot of our meals in the condo we rented, I would love some safe restaurant recommendations.  I have been to findmeglutenfree.com already.  I just want to see if anyone on here has traveled there and eaten out without any issues.

Thanks so much!

[RMJ]

I live in San Diego.  I don’t get symptoms from gluten so can’t be sure there aren’t issues but I try to be very careful and my antibodies are finally in the normal range.

My favorite is Healthy Creations in Encinitas. Completely gluten free. Not at all fancy, but very tasty.  If you like gardens, you could combine it with a trip to San Diego Botanical Garden, also in Encinitas.

For special occasions we go to the Melting Pot.  They are NOT completely gluten free but procedures have been certified by GFCO.  I’d go downtown, not La Jolla.  In La Jolla for the cheese fondue they substituted a gluten removed beer for the gluten free beer listed in the menu.  I complained to GFCO who took it very seriously. 

California Pizza Kitchen has several certified gluten free pizzas, prepared in a separate area.

Enjoy your trip!

[icelandgirl]

2 hours ago, RMJ said:

I live in San Diego.  I don’t get symptoms from gluten so can’t be sure there aren’t issues but I try to be very careful and my antibodies are finally in the normal range.

My favorite is Healthy Creations in Encinitas. Completely gluten free. Not at all fancy, but very tasty.  If you like gardens, you could combine it with a trip to San Diego Botanical Garden, also in Encinitas.

For special occasions we go to the Melting Pot.  They are NOT completely gluten free but procedures have been certified by GFCO.  I’d go downtown, not La Jolla.  In La Jolla for the cheese fondue they substituted a gluten removed beer for the gluten free beer listed in the menu.  I complained to GFCO who took it very seriously. 

California Pizza Kitchen has several certified gluten free pizzas, prepared in a separate area.

Enjoy your trip!

Thanks so much RMJ!

I had looked at Healthy Creations...looks good.  What do you recommend there? Also, is it kid friendly? I have 3 kids.  ?

I get horrible, long lasting symptoms from gluten, unfortunately.  I was glutened on vacation 2 years ago and it ruined the rest of my trip.

Any top recommendations on what to do with 3 kids? We have a long list of what everyone wants to do, but it can't be done in a week.

Thanks again!

[RMJ]

Hi Icelandgirl,

I don’t have kids or experience with kids but I think Healthy Creations would be kid friendly.  It is more of a cafe, had tables inside and outside.  I like the falafel.  Hopefully they are careful about where they get their garbanzos.

I’m guessing the kids would like the zoo and Safari Park, and Sea World.  The Botanical Garden in Encinitas has a children’s garden.

[RMJ]

Two other completely gluten free restaurants I’ve been to are the Curious Fork, and 2Good2Be.  The food is fine but nothing special.  I go there because they should be safe places for me when I have lunch with friends.

[icelandgirl]

Thank you so much again, RMJ...very helpful information!

[cyclinglady]

Go down for the day to Coronado Island and hang out on Hotel del Coronado’s beach which is open to the public.   Explore the hotel where the King Of England dined (before he abdicated the throne for the American Mrs. Simpson).  The movie “Some Like it Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Troy Curtis (Jamie Lee Curtis’ Dad) and Jack Lemon was filmed at the hotel.  If you leave your license and credit card you can go to the guest room and see the lady ghost who resides there (no luck for me).    I have hauled kids down there plenty of times.   The view from the beach is great and the kids love the ice cream.  Of course lunch on the terrace used to be a favorite.  Save on parking and park for free on nearby residential streets.  Of course staying there is even better, but why waste it on kids?  Hubby and I like staying there.   So romantic.  

Open Original Shared Link

Skip Mission Bay unless you are going to Sea World.   The beach at the Hotel is better, the Island is charming and you can rent bikes.  Check out the super expensive homes (tiny....but it is California!) and fun shops.  

The zoo and museums are located at Balboa Park.  A great place to picnic.  Old Towne is fun and can be done in a few short hours (we tend to like historical things). Then head over to Cabrillo National  Monument and Lighthouse.  Sometimes you can catch a aircraft carrier ship coming into the Harbor.  Explore tide pools and get your kid’s National Parks book stamped.  

Open Original Shared Link

The Gaslight district is fun, but mostly foods and bar hopping, my opinion.  The other beaches are cute, but we have plenty of those in the OC.  

Sorry, but I just haul my food in an ice chest or in our RV, so I have not eaten out in San Diego since my dx, so I can not recommend restaurants.    There is a local celiac group, so read  their recommendations.  

Open Original Shared Link

[icelandgirl]

14 hours ago, cyclinglady said:

Go down for the day to Coronado Island and hang out on Hotel del Coronado’s beach which is open to the public.   Explore the hotel where the King Of England dined (before he abdicated the throne for the American Mrs. Simpson).  The movie “Some Like it Hot” starring Marilyn Monroe, Troy Curtis (Jamie Lee Curtis’ Dad) and Jack Lemon was filmed at the hotel.  If you leave your license and credit card you can go to the guest room and see the lady ghost who resides there (no luck for me).    I have hauled kids down there plenty of times.   The view from the beach is great and the kids love the ice cream.  Of course lunch on the terrace used to be a favorite.  Save on parking and park for free on nearby residential streets.  Of course staying there is even better, but why waste it on kids?  Hubby and I like staying there.   So romantic.  

Open Original Shared Link

Skip Mission Bay unless you are going to Sea World.   The beach at the Hotel is better, the Island is charming and you can rent bikes.  Check out the super expensive homes (tiny....but it is California!) and fun shops.  

The zoo and museums are located at Balboa Park.  A great place to picnic.  Old Towne is fun and can be done in a few short hours (we tend to like historical things). Then head over to Cabrillo National  Monument and Lighthouse.  Sometimes you can catch a aircraft carrier ship coming into the Harbor.  Explore tide pools and get your kid’s National Parks book stamped.  

Open Original Shared Link

The Gaslight district is fun, but mostly foods and bar hopping, my opinion.  The other beaches are cute, but we have plenty of those in the OC.  

Sorry, but I just haul my food in an ice chest or in our RV, so I have not eaten out in San Diego since my dx, so I can not recommend restaurants.    There is a local celiac group, so read  their recommendations.  

Open Original Shared Link

Thank you cyclinglady!  You are, as always, a wealth of information!

I really do appreciate your insights.  I haven't been to San Diego in 8 years and it will be my first time going gluten free.

We've decided to skip Sea World this time, but are doing the zoo and Balboa Park for sure.  After reading your recommendation about Coronado we may just have to do that too!

Our first 2 days will be in Anaheim, headed to Disney...after that we are driving down to San Diego.  The 2 older kids want to go to the Santa Monica Pier...is that worth the drive from Anaheim?  I'm thinking we could spend the day there before heading to San Diego.

Also, have you been to Oceans and Earth restaurant in Yorba Linda?  It sounds so good and am wondering if we should go.

Thanks so much!

[cyclinglady]

Yes!  We eat at Oceans and Earth.  They even have customers ers who drive up from San Diego.  The owner has a farm.  Do not expect lots of Gluten Free bread, but fresh “farm to table” yummy food!  All safe!  

Santa Monica is fun.  A street is dedicated for shopping.  Take a photo on top of the bluff where the Route 66 marker is located.  (We once started there and took the old Route 66 all the way to San Bernadino and stayed at the Tee Pee Motel.  We have taken Route 66 many times while driving across country.   It was a blast, but not recommended for your trip).  Walk the pier, take a carnival ride (lame though after Disneyland, in my opinion, but you have some younger kids).  Head back to the OC via Hwy 1 and stop off in Redondo Beach for lunch or snack at Kirari West Bake Shop.  All 100% gluten free and approved by OC Celiacs!  Then jump back on the 405 to head to San Diego.

Open Original Shared Link

Disney is good about food allergies and taking care of celiacs.  You should have a blast!  

FYI.  We travel to some of the nicest hotels and I have no qualms about hauling in my ice chest stocked full of safe foods.  

 

 

[icelandgirl]

Thank you again CL!

I was just looking at Kirari!  That looks great too.  I do need to find out if they use oats or millet first(can't have either), but it looks delicious!

I'm so excited...I do so appreciate your help!  We usually cook our own stuff and plan to for the most part, but it would be nice to have a night off from the kitchen on our trip, so having some really safe ideas feels great!

The older kids have fond memories of In n Out...and really want to go again.  Would you eat there?  I know that the only gluten they have is the buns, but I'm not sure.  We don't have one here so I understand that they want to.  I am also fine with eating before.  I'm used to that! 

[cyclinglady]

In N Out is pretty safe.  Select a new one that has a back grille.  Some of the old stores only have one grille and outdoor seating.  Tell them you have a wheat or gluten allergy.  Be assertive and tell them you are not a Hollywood Gluten Free  moviestar.  This is critical for your health.   Get a protein style 3 burger allergy burger (lettuce wrapped).  Stand aside and watch them prepare it or watch them head to the back kitchen where the extra grille is located.  I skip the fries.  Although dedicated for French fries alone, I worked in food service when I was young. We made all kinds of concoctions.  Could be why In N Out has a secret menu.  Like have your kids order the Neapolitan shake (not on the menu).  So, think about that!  Who knows what goes into the fryer when the manager is not supervising?  Times may have changed, procedures are in place for handling allergies, but kids have not changed!  

I did one time watch two girls on the grille prepare my burger without going back to cook on the second grille.  I called them out.  The manager then safely cooked my burger.  Just lazy girls, I guess and it was not even at rush hour!  Overall, they are pretty safe, safer than any other fast food place in the OC.  

I have only ordered salads for Kirari because I am on a Low carb diet for diabetes.  So, not sure if they use gluten-free oats (which does not bother my hubby at all, but I am way more sensitive).  

Sprouts, Mother’s and Whole Foods markets are around and you can find gluten free food there too.  Don’t forget the new egg sandwich at Starbucks.  

[icelandgirl]

Thank you again CL!  You've been so helpful.  

I can't do the Starbucks sandwich...both soy and millet in there.  Millet causes me terrible pain...found that out the hard way on vacation once.